Dec. 6: Cirque Mechanics performed at the annual family benefit of the New Victory Theater. The nonprofit theater is dedicated to young people.

1. BARD GOODRICH helps a guest with her act.

2. VARTAN GREGORIAN, left, with his grandson MAX and son DAREH.

3. Trying on props.

4. Guests onstage.

5. SKYLER SULLIVAN and Mr. Goodrich teaching acrobatics to SARA ROSE SHANNON.

Dec. 8: About 500 guests attended the annual gala of the Food Allergy Initiative at the Waldorf-Astoria.

6. From left, DAVID and DENISE BUNNING, who were honored, and SHARYN T. MANN.

7. BETTE and RICHARD SALTZMAN, two honorees.

8. MARY RICHARDSON KENNEDY and ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.

9. MAURO MACCIONI, left, GATE HAILE and MARCUS SAMUELSSON, an honoree.

10. From left, INGE and IRA RENNERT, DAVID KOCH and NINA RENNERT DAVIDSON.

Dec. 7: The annual treelighting ceremony of the Fund for Park Avenue included caroling outside the Brick Presbyterian Church at 91st Street. The trees stretch 212 miles along the avenue. The event began in 1945.

11. A caroler.

12. MARTHA KING. Dec. 9: A party opened an exhibition of jewelry by Alexander Calder at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The show, running through March 1, includes about 100 pieces in brass, gold and silver.

13. MARY CALDER ROWER.

14. Mobile earrings on a display head.

15. From left, PAUL, HOPE and SUSAN

MAKLER wearing Calder jewelry and Calder prints.

Dec. 11: The Partnership for a Drug-Free America held an awards dinner at the Waldorf- Astoria. The 550 guests honored Sir Howard Stringer, the chairman of the Sony Corporation, and raised $1.9 million.

16. From left, CHARLES OSGOOD, ROY J. BOSTOCK and JOHN J. MACK.

Dec. 10: The 14th annual family Hanukkah Party of the Jewish Museum was attended by 350 guests.

17. PAM PANTZER with her grandchildren, from left, LAUREN, CAROLINE and AMANDA PANTZER.

18. JENNY PAULSON with her daughters GISELLE, left, and DANIELLE.

19. JACKIE HARRIS HOCHBERG, left, with her son HARRISON; RAY and ROSS HAMMERMAN with their children JULIA and BRETT.

Dec. 10: Ada Louise Huxtable received the Louis Auchincloss prize, $10,000, of the Museum of the City of New York.

20. LOUIS AUCHINCLOSS.

21. ADA LOUISE HUXTABLE, left, and SUSAN HENSHAW JONES, the museum's director.

Dec. 8: A preview of the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall included a performance by Michael Feinstein, followed by a lavish dessert reception in the new glass lobby. The event began with 50 dinner parties given around the city. The 740 guests raised $2.7 million.

22. The dessert party in the lobby.

23. LAURIE TISCH, left, and ANN ZIFF.

24. From left, JAMES ZIRIN, MARLENE HESS, DAVID and LISA SCHIFF and MICHAEL FEINSTEIN.

25. ALICE RUBENSTEIN and DAVID RUBENSTEIN.

26. CHERYL MILSTEIN and PHILIP L. MILSTEIN.

27. ANNE HARRISON and WILLIAM B. HARRISON. 28. RAYMOND KELLY and VERONICA KELLY.

29. EDWARD S. PANTZER and KAREN LeFRAK.

30. RICARDO SCOFIDIO and LIZ DILLER, the architects.

31. JENNIE DeSCHERER, left, and MATILDA CUOMO.

32. LILLIAN VERNON and PAOLO MARTINO.

Dec. 10: The Museum of Chinese in America raised $1. 7 million at Capitale. The museum is at 70 Mulberry Street in Chinatown.

33. From left, ANTHONY COLELLA, JUSTIN YU, VINCENT CHI and JACK ENG.

34. ANG LEE and VERA WANG.

35. ANLA CHENG and Gen. JOHN FUGH.

36. DAVID HO and JENNY MING.

37. EILEEN LOO and I. M. PEI.

38. CORINNE GREENBERG and MAURICE GREENBERG.

39. VISHAKHA N. DESAI, left, and WEI SUN CHRISTIANSON, an honoree.

40. MAYA LIN and CHARLES LAI, the director of the museum.


PHOTOS (PHOTOGRAPHS BY BILL CUNNINGHAM)